A lot of people think nutritionists are the “food police” and are going to harshly judge everything you eat. When in reality, it is the exact opposite; my job is to support and guide you on your journey to developing better eating habits.
Liz Keller
Meet Liz Keller, Nutritionist
Liz Keller is a Nutritionist with a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition & Dietetics from Queens College. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Human Nutrition from Bridgeport University and is a certified CDC DDP Lifestyle Coach. She has experience working for a national nutrition & weight loss company and has helped other fitness facilities establish nutritional programs. Liz believes that the most important decision impacting your health is what you put on your plate, and you make that decision multiple times a day. While fad diets and quick fixes are popular, her goal is to help clients succeed in making lifestyle changes, so they never feel like they are “dieting” and can build a better relationship with food. FTP recently had an opportunity to sit down with Liz and get to know her and ask about what she has in store for the Eat Smart program at Fitness Incentive.
Tell us about yourself.
Hi Everyone! My name is Liz, and I am so excited to start working at Fitness Incentive. I joined as a member over a year ago, and I love the atmosphere and the facility. Most days you’ll usually find me in the weight room, at the squat rack or in one of the group classes. Outside of the gym, I love going to the beach, reading, and hanging out with my dog. I graduated from Queens College with my second bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics in 2015, and over the past few years, I have worked with hundreds of clients. I am so grateful that I have had the opportunity to be a part of their success stories while doing what I love to do.
Why did you decide to become a nutritionist?
A big reason I got into nutritional counseling in the first place is that I love food. Growing up, I was known in my group of friends as the person who could eat the most, including my guy friends. I was even picked to represent my entire grade at a school event to participate in an eating contest. Like most people, after high school, my level of activity decreased, my diet got worse, and I gained the “freshman fifteen.” I never had to think about what I ate before, so I turned to exercise tapes to get myself back in shape. I did research and taught myself about portion control, the importance of protein, and cut out a lot of the junk I was eating. However, it wasn’t till I was going to school to be a nutritionist that learned how to build a different relationship with food and how nutrients from food play a role in how I feel and think.
What are some misconceptions people have about seeing a nutritionist?
A lot of people think nutritionists are the “food police” and are going to harshly judge everything you eat. When in reality, it is the exact opposite; my job is to support and guide you on your journey to developing better eating habits. Another misconception is nutritionists only eat kale and air, so they couldn’t possibly relate to people who struggle with eating healthy. My own diet is not “perfect” all of the time, and I personally have tried many popular diets to try to reach a specific goal. These diets have helped me develop my approach with clients because I learned first hand that while short term diets may bring success, the results never last. Also, people often think I only help clients lose weight and do so by writing meal plans all day. Although I do help people with their weight and can make custom meal plans, nutrition is so much more than just how much you weigh. I work with clients to help them enjoy what they eat and take the steps towards making long-term lifestyle changes.
What are three words that describe you best?
Positive, Energetic, Genuine
Describe your approach to nutrition?
My main goal as Eat Smart’s new nutritionist is to help you optimize your life both inside and out of the gym. I believe that food is medicine, not only for physical health but also for mental health. My approach to nutritional counseling can be described as “anti-diet” or what I like to call mindful eating. Mindful eating often gets confused with eating whatever you want whenever you want, but this is not the case. Mindful eating involves paying attention to how the food you are eating is making you feel and not restricting certain types of food and labeling them as good or bad. Just like working out in the gym, your diet is about progress, not perfection. As your nutritionist, my mission is to help you achieve your health goals while providing you with support to help you change your mindset about food.
You can learn more about the award-winning Eat Smart program here. If you’d like to schedule a consultation with Liz, you can email her at eatsmart@fitnessincentive.com, or text her at 516-655-9473
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About the Author
Liz Keller
Liz Keller is a Nutritionist with a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition & Dietetics from Queens College and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Human Nutrition from Bridgeport University. She is a certified CDC DDP Lifestyle coach and has experience working for a national weight loss and nutrition company and has also helped other fitness facilities establish nutritional programs with structured meal plans and client education.